Mounting fixture for a hand-held hair dryer

Abstract

A mounting fixture for a hand-held hair dryer comprising a fixture body including a base portion having a support surface, and an arm portion extending from the support surface in a direction generally perpendicular to the support surface. A bridge member is supported on the arm portion. The bridge member has a longitudinal axis which is parallel to and spaced apart from the support surface. The mounting fixture includes a clasp mounted on the support surface to receive and secure the end of the handle of a hair dryer and a clamp connected to the bridge member for holding the barrel of the hair dryer against the bridge member.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A mounting fixture for a hand-held hair dryer having an elongate dryer handle and barrel extending from a central portion, the dryer handle and barrel having a generally perpendicular orientation with respect to one another, said mounting fixture comprising: a fixture body including a base portion having a support surface, and an arm portion extending from said support surface in a direction generally perpendicular to said support surface;   a bridge member supported on said arm portion, said bridge member having a longitudinal axis which is generally parallel to said support surface, said bridge member being spaced from said support surface;   a clasp mounted on said support surface and spaced from the longitudinal axis of said bridge member, said clasp being adapted to receive the end of the dryer handle and to impede displacement of the dryer handle relative to said bridge member;   a clamp connected to said bridge member for holding the dryer barrel against the bridge member when the end of the dryer handle is inserted into said clasp; and   said base portion having a slot extending in a generally perpendicular direction relative to the longitudinal axis of said bridge member, said clasp being slidably mounted in said slot for translation therein, said clasp being adapted to be secured in a plurality of positions in said slot.   
     
     
       2. A mounting fixture as set forth in claim 1 wherein said clasp has a U-shape, the open end of said clasp facing away from said bridge member. 
     
     
       3. A mounting fixture as set forth in claim 1 wherein said arm portion has a slot, said bridge member being slidably mounted in said slot for translation toward and away from said support surface, said bridge member being adapted to be secured in a plurality of positions in said slot. 
     
     
       4. A mounting fixture for a hand-held hair dryer having an elongate dryer handle and barrel extending from a central portion, the dryer handle and barrel having a generally perpendicular orientation with respect to one another, said mounting fixture comprising: a fixture body including a base portion having a support surface, and an arm portion extending from said support surface in a direction generally perpendicular to said support surface;   a bridge member supported on said arm portion, said bridge member having a longitudinal axis which is generally parallel to said support surface, said bridge member being spaced from said support surface;   a clasp mounted on said support surface and spaced from the longitudinal axis of said bridge member, said clasp being adapted to receive the end of the dryer handle and to impede displacement of the dryer handle relative to said bridge member;   a clamp connected to said bridge member for holding the dryer barrel against the bridge member when the end of the dryer handle is inserted into said clasp; and   said arm portion having a slot, said bridge member being slidably mounted in said slot for translation toward and away from said support surface, said bridge member being adapted to be secured in a plurality of positions in said slot.   
     
     
       5. A mounting fixture as set forth in claim 4 wherein said bridge member is cantilevered from said arm portion. 
     
     
       6. A mounting fixture as set forth in claim 4 wherein said base portion has a slot extending in a generally perpendicular direction relative to the longitudinal axis of said bridge member, said clasp being slidably mounted in said slot for translation therein, said clasp being adapted to be secured in a plurality of positions in said slot. 
     
     
       7. A mounting fixture as set forth in claims 1 or 4 wherein said clamp comprises a resilient strap attached to opposite ends of said bridge member so that, when the dryer barrel is inserted between said strap and bridge member, said strap urges the dryer barrel against said bridge member. 
     
     
       8. A mounting fixture as set forth in claim 7 further comprising an elastomeric sleeve surrounding a portion of said strap which, when said strap holds the dryer barrel against said bridge member, is urged against the dryer barrel by said strap to frictionally resist translation of the dryer barrel relative to said bridge member. 
     
     
       9. A mounting fixture as set forth in claim 8 wherein said elastomeric sleeve includes an integral tab for pulling said strap away from said bridge member. 
     
     
       10. A mounting fixture as set forth in claims 1 or 2 further comprising a pivoting joint on which said base portion is supported, said pivoting joint enabling adjustment of the direction of the dryer barrel mounted on said base portion. 
     
     
       11. A mounting fixture as set forth in claims 1 or 2 wherein said arm portion includes a handle portion. 
     
     
       12. A mounting fixture as set forth in claims 1 or 2 further comprising a means for mounting a mirror on said arm portion. 
     
     
       13. A mounting fixture as set forth in claims 1 or 2 formed by injection molding. 
     
     
       14. A mounting fixture for a hand-held hair dryer comprising: a first pair of arms connected together at one end by a first hinge enabling said first pair of arms to grasp a support member;   a second pair of arms sandwiching said first pair of arms at the end opposite from said first hinge, said sandwiched portions of said first pair of arms and said sandwiching portions of said second pair of arms each having a linking bore coaxially aligned with the other said linking bores;   a linking bolt extending through said linking bores to clamp said first and second pairs of arms together thereby to clamp said first pair of arms around the support member and to enable adjustable inclination of said second pair of arms with respect to the plane which contains said first pair of arms; and   a second hinge formed in one of said second arms enabling said one of said second pair of arms to be swung between open and closed positions enabling said second pair of arms to grasp a handle of the hand-held hair dryer.